Sunday, February 27, 2005

Onsite Update :: from Lakshmi in Chennai

Dear Friends,

2 months today after the Tsunami struck the coast and catapulted all of us into working with relief and some rehab work with the victims of this natural calamity, we at Asha Chennai are taking stock of our work, our funding, our plans and bandwidth for Tsunami related activity.

Asha Chennai Tsunami Relief and Rehab Projects

Support A Family – We have decided to close this project by mid March, 2005. We have raised enough to support 200+ families. We thank all the organizations, chapters and individual donors who have raised the funds till today the 27th of February 2005 for their enormous support to this project. We do not require any further funding for the project.

Back To School - We have decided to close this project by end March 2005. We have raised enough to support 1000+ children. We thank the schools in the US, the individual donors, the organizations that have so quickly and joyfully supported this project with their collections till today the 27th March 2005. We do not require any further funding for the project.

Nemmilikuppam- Boats- The four boats with motors have reached the village fisherfolk. We thank the individual donors who made this project possible. The project stands closed as of today 27th March 2005. We do not require any further funding for the project.

Nochikuppam, Nochinagar- Balwadis renovation

Balwadis and schools improvement in the rehab area of the city( Kannagi Nagar) where the people from the Tsunami belt of the city are being sent by the govt. We need your continued support, and funding for this projects 4 and 5. The project details are being worked out. Should be ready in a couple of days and on the website soon too.

If you would like to donate/collect donations for this project please get in touch with us.

I feel

Ø A sense of satisfaction that we at Asha Chennai have been able to spare time and energy for a sudden and great demand.

Ø A sense of relief that we set ourselves realistic targets considering our bandwidth and volunteer time

Ø A sense of happiness that we are able to return to our regular planned work in full steam with greater learning from our experiences

Ø A sense of wonder that we managed to get so much support and from so many different people

The little soft toys that are around brighten up the last bit of our work. When a child accompanies the parent who comes for help we just hand a toy to the child and there are little squeals of delight, smiles. The gifts of eats from Delhi packages also help.